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Inspection of Arctic Sea showed no illegal cargo
10/30/2009 Source:Inspection at Arctic Sea vessel, which was permitted to call at Maltese port La Valetta on Thursday and was accepted by shipowner, revealed no illegal cargo, said Viktor Matveev, Director of Finnish company Solchart on phone talk to RIA Novosti; Solchart is the vessel's operator holding 100% shares of Maltese company which is Arctic Sea's shipowner.
Conducting an inspection aboard the ship was one of requirements of maritime administration before giving a permit for port call.
Cargo ship Arctic Sea with Russian 15-men crew aboard was sailing from Finland to Algeria when mysteriously disappeared late July. It was found in the Atlantic near Cabo Verde on Aug 16.
According to investigation, Arctic Sea was hijacked by eight citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Russia. Black Sea Fleet marines conducted the crew release operation.
Eleven crewmembers were sent to Russia right after release. The rest four men including the captain remained at the vessel; Russian investigators started to work aboard.
There were suggestions in media that the cargo vessel might carry not only wood. In particular, there were versions of drugs and even S-300 missiles. Russian Investigative Committee stated after investigatory actions that no undeclared cargo was detected aboard.
The ship was towed to Las Palmas early Sept. According to Investigative Committee, the vessel should have been handed over to its owner on Sept 17, although it did not happen since Arctic Sea owner refused to accept the vessel due to absence of letter of authority. Few days later, the cargo ship left that region under tow.
Russia proposed to tow the vessel to Algerian port as consignee was an Algerian company, but authorities of the country refused to permit a port call, said Andrei Nesterenko, Russian MFA spokesman on Oct 8. It was said at the same time that Arctic Sea was at anchor west Gibraltar accompanied with salvage vessel and Russian corvette.
Late October the vessel was towed to Malta coast where talks of call at La Valetta port and acceptance by shipowner held. Investigators reported about successful results of these negotiations on Friday.
"I've just returned from talks which were constructive. I thank Maltese maritime administration and Russian officials. Consequently, I've accepted the vessel, it is moored at La Valetta port now", said the interviewee.
The vessel was inspected by all services for two days and revealed "absence of any illegal substances or cargoes aboard", said Matveev.
"The inspection is resulted in categorical affirmation that the ship is "absolutely clear", said the interviewee.